This is not where the Penn State men's basketball team expected to be heading into tonight's highly anticipated game with Bucknell.

This was supposed to be the statement game that would set the tone for the remainder of the season. The undefeated Nittany Lions were supposed to go up against the recent mid-major power from 50 miles to the east and prove to the country that Penn State basketball is here to compete.

Instead, the Lions (2-1) are coming off of a disappointing 59-51 loss to Stony Brook last Friday and Bucknell (0-3) is looking more like a two-year wonder -- the Bison have yet to win this season.

So what was supposed to be a battle for Central Pennsylvania supremacy at 7:30 tonight in the Bryce Jordan Center, has now turned into an important game both teams need to get their respective seasons back on track.

Penn State head coach Ed DeChellis feels it's important for his team not to get too worked up over the loss to Stony Brook. Rather, DeChellis wants the Lions to take responsibility for the loss and recover.

"The season's not over, other people have been beaten early," DeChellis said. "It's not the end of the world. We've got ourselves into this mess; we've got to get ourselves out of it."

That will be a difficult task for the Lions as Bucknell will employ the same defensive strategy Stony Brook used to shut down Penn State - pressure the guards and force turnovers.

The Bison come in with a pressure defense, led by Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year point

guard Abe Badmus. The Bison create 15 turnovers and six steals per game, while surrendering only 64 points.

But, DeChellis has emphasized beating the pressure in practice and feels his team has gotten better.

"Bucknell will come out and guard us like they do. We worked on [handling their defense] exclusively in practice," DeChellis said. "I think we'll be ready to go and handle any kind of pressure anyone will give us."

On the offensive end, the Bison feature a balanced scoring attack led by Patriot League Player of the Year, center Chris McNaughton. Meanwhile, Badmus runs the show and distributes the ball at a clip of five assists per game.

While Penn State will have to try and shut down Badmus and McNaughton, DeChellis feels the game will come down to more than just offense and defense.

"Bucknell will be the best team we've played so far this year," DeChellis said. "And I think there's a sense that it might come down to who wants it the most tonight."

Sophomore Jamelle Cornley, the emotional leader of the team, said the Lions might talk like it is a good team. But until it shows it on the court by beating a quality opponent, Penn State has proven nothing.

"After the first two games, I think we tried to develop our swagger too quick," Cornley said. "We don't have a swagger yet, we don't have an identity completely. We're still trying to find that, and I think that we relaxed and got complacent. And once you get complacent in any game in any league whomever you play, they're gonna come after you."

Bucknell has proven that it will go after anyone, anywhere. The Bison have amassed a schedule that includes notable programs such as Wake Forest, St. Joe's, George Mason and Texas Tech, while also scoring wins over Kansas, Arkansas, Syracuse and Pitt during the last two seasons.

One thing's for sure, Bucknell does not seem intimidated by going up against a Big Ten opponent, and the Lions aren't ready to throw in the towel just yet.

"We've got to prepare for Bucknell and take no prisoners," Cornley said.